A SERVING Somerset councillor, Michael Dunk, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in Just Stop Oil protests on the M25 in 2022, triggering a by-election in his Frome West division.

Councillor Michael Dunk was one of two Green Party councillors elected to represent the Frome West division at the local elections in May 2022.

Mr Dunk (known affectionately as ‘Mick’) was among numerous Just Stop Oil activists who climbed gantries on the M25 on November 8, 2022 to demand an end to new fossil fuel projects.

Mr Dunk will spend Christmas in prison after he and five of his counterparts were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Friday (December 5) – with a by-election being held in the new year to replace him.

Mr Dunk (who also represented the Frome Market ward on Mendip District Council between 2019 and 2023) claimed gantries on the M25 at 7am on the date in question to erect banners in protest to the then-Conservative government’s plan to licence more than 100 new oil and gas projects, against all advice from environmental experts.

The banner (reading ‘Just Stop Oil’) caused the police to close the motorway to traffic passing underneath the gantry.

Mr Dunk and his five counterparts were tried over the course of eight days in October 2025 – a trial in which the prosecution refused to accept any agreed facts on the climate crisis to be included in evidence, and the defendants were “denied all legal defences”.

A jury convicted all six of “intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance”, and Mr Dunk was sentenced by Judge Perrins to 26 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay £4,380 in costs.

Mr Dunk had already spent 187 days under curfew and a further eight days on remand while awaiting his trial, with this time being deducted from his sentence.

Due to the nature of his offence, he will only serve 40 per cent of his sentence with good behaviour, making him eligible for release in October 2026 (and will spend the rest of his sentence on probation).

Three of the other protesters received custodial services of between 20 and 30 months (of which they will serve 40 per cent in custody), while the remaining two were given suspended sentences.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Perrins said that it would be “wholly wrong” to take the individual actions of each defendant in isolation, as each knowingly took part in a much broader plan to “cause as much disruption as possible”.

The protests eventually affected approximately 228,000 vehicles, caused 18,000 hours of vehicle delays and affected nearly a quarter million people who were “trying to go about their daily lives”.

Judge Perrins said he was satisfied having heard the evidence that not one of the defendants “took seriously the impact they had caused” – but noted that they had “acted on their conscience”.

Just Stop Oil announced the end of its “campaign of action on March 27, 2025, having secured assurances from the current Labour government that no new oil and gas licences would be issued.

In a statement posted on the Frome Area Green Party Facebook page, Mr Dunk said the protest was “not an action that I took lightly”, arguing that the Conservatives’ actions would have “made it impossible” for the UK to meet its climate change targets.

He elaborated: “Any reasonable person would want to prevent extreme global warming in order to protect future generations and allow them to have a future.

“Even if I did not have children and grandchildren, I would have taken that action as my conscience would not allow me to stand back and do nothing.

“The gantry protest I was involved in lasted for four days. I did cause some disruption.

“The safety of the travelling public was my first consideration.”

Under government rules on councillors’ conduct, elected councillors are not permitted to remain in office if they have been convicted of a crime with a sentence of three months or more.

Mr Dunk said: “I am sadly, therefore, unable to continue representing those who elected me, but I consider that I acted in their best interests.

“I made a stand against a government policy that was at best ill-judged but at worst a cynical policy to keep the oil and gas lobby happy, ensuring further donations to help keep them in power.

“There is some comfort in knowing that this present government has promised to not allow any new exploration licences in the North Sea, and we have to hope that promise is kept, despite pressure from the fossil fuel industry and their spokespeople in the Conservative and Reform parties.

“We are in a climate emergency and have to act like it. It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of our situation.

“I want to thank all the council officers and councillors who are doing all they can to reduce our emissions in very difficult financial circumstances.”

Numerous Green Party councillors have condemned Mr Dunk’s sentence, including his fellow Frome West councillor and former parliamentary candidate Martin Dimery.

He said: “Mick is highly principled, yet understanding and tolerant of others, regardless of their beliefs.

“Tragically, this sentence means he can no longer continue as a Green Party councillor.

“He has been a conscientious and well-informed colleague, always willing to help others and going beyond the call of duty.

“This sentence appears draconian and spiteful. Other judges in similar cases have been far more lenient.

“The outcome was arguably pre-determined by the judge in refusing defendants the right to attempt to justify their actions. He even ordered the jury not to research climate change before making their decision.

“At a time when prisons are overflowing and early release granted to sometimes violent criminals, it is impossible not to conclude that this sentence is politically motivated.

“Mick and his co-defendants have been made an example of. Meanwhile, successive governments continue to ingratiate themselves to those who are destroying the planet.

“I know many of his colleagues at Somerset Council, like us, will be devastated.”

Councillor Shane Collins (Frome East) said: “‘I am shocked and appalled at the severity of Councillor Dunk’s sentence, especially when defendants in other court cases for the same offence were found not guilty having been allowed to mention the climate emergency to the jury.

“History tells us that peaceful direct action is needed to push politicians into action – without which women would not have the vote, apartheid would remain in South Africa, British workers would not have union rights and African Americans would not have civil rights.

“Mick Dunk is courageous and right to do all he can to stop us falling into the abyss of a collapsing climate.”

Councillor Helen Kay (Frome East) added: “Mick is a personal friend and I am devastated at this news.

“He is one of the kindest, most considerate people I know, and a reliable council colleague, taking his responsibilities very seriously.

“He took this direct action out of the same sense of care and responsibility for the planet.

“I went to court with Mick a few times and was angered to hear the judge tell the jury they should not research anything to do with climate change or fossil fuels, nor would he permit the idea of a ‘reasonable response’ to a climate emergency to be considered as a defence.

“We will be organising a fundraiser to pay his fine, so please contact me if you can help.”

Council leader Bill Revans (Liberal Democrat, North Petherton) said Mr Dunk’s treatment during the legal process had been “appalling”, and his sentence was “incredibly harsh”.

He said: “The judiciary and specific legal cases normally need to be kept independent from party political comment.

“However, the awful treatment of Councillor Mick Dunk now calls into question the fairness of our judicial system in cases where people are protesting non-violently.

“Mick absolutely broke the law on a Just Stop Oil protest, disrupting the lives of many. There certainly needs to be proportional consequences for law-breaking.

“However, a custodial sentence of over two years for a respected, sincere and kind man is appalling.

“He has served the community of Frome well, and his contributions to Somerset Council debate have been hugely appreciated.

“Our prisons are overcrowded and expensive. A community payback order and/ or a suspended sentence would have been much more appropriate.

“I fully agree with those who say that councillors are community leaders and should step aside if convicted of serious offences.

“My thoughts are with Mick, Alliss and all his friends and family affected by this incredibly harsh sentence.”

A by-election to replace Mr Dunk will be held in the new year at a date to be determined.